Baine's World

Open Letter To The Kid : Five

2015-07-11T16:18:00.000+08:00

Dear Adriana Rahah,

Alhamdulillah, a few months ago you turned 5 years old. Abah do apologise for the delay in penning your annual open letter as Abah had nearly forgotten that this blog even existed. Actually, that's just how life is. Abah had been lucky enough to have a place where Abah could note down the things that I go through when others just let memories of their lives just fade into history.

Sometimes you need to be reminded by others of how lucky you really are.

So this year you've started going to a proper kindergarten as compared to the weekend play school that you used to go to. Things weren't so easy for you was it? That's normal and you shouldn't be discouraged because of it. We can't all be good right from the beginning, sometimes we need time.

In life when you're attempting something new, it does take awhile before things really get going and you into the groove of things. Some don't take long, some take quite some time while some just never ever get used to it at all.

Both Abah and Mommy are willing to give you the space and time for you to succeed, no matter how long it takes. Maybe Abah made some mistakes in the past while bringing you up which meant you were good at certain things and not at others but hey, we're in this together for the long run.

Remember how earlier Abah said that sometimes we need others to remind us how lucky we really are? I see that when I send you to school every morning, that you aren't the only one who dread entering the school gates. You're not the only one raving and at times crying; refusing to go to school.

Abah grew up with your late grandparents commonly comparing Abah with how the other kids were doing. But they're not to blame, they just wanted the best for Abah just like how Abah wants the best for you but maybe that was just their own way of doing things.

Abah will always do my best and not put you through the same thing again. You are an individual and what you go through may not be the same as compared to the peers around you. Abah's goal is to create an environment and provide you with ample opportunities to succeed in whatever you choose to do in life.

As you continue to grow and mature you'll have your better days and days when you just wished you weren't even born in the first place. That's life and when things get hard for you and you feel that you just can't go on, remember that InsyaAllah I'll be there to remind you how lucky you are as compared to so many others so don't give up and trudge along.

Things are going to get even more hectic and crowded soon yet you seem to be maturing into a great big sister. We're truly blessed to have you and Adik in our lives even though both of you can get on our nerves at times, we wouldn't want it any other way.

This year too you lost your grandfather to illness. You may not be old enough to fully comprehend and understand everything but you do get the idea that there will come a time that people will go away to rest and not ever come back. That's just how life is Adriana, we all have to accept it.

So to you Adriana Rahah, happy belated birthday from Abah. May you continue to grow up into a great person that is obedient to Allah, respectful to your parents and elders and also a great example to your siblings and your peers.

May you continue to grow into a marvellous person who's always under the care and blessings of Allah.

Warm Regards,

Abah

Open Letter To The Kid : Four

2014-02-12T21:43:00.000+08:00

Dear Adriana Rahah,

You're four! Alhamdulillah. This time around Abah need not require a reminder from Mommy to pen your annual open letter.

I am however writing this year's open letter from a hospital.

Of course as you grow older and begin to understand things better, you'll realise that both Abah and Mommy will get sick from time to time just as you do. It's normal and there's nothing to be alarmed about.

Because at the end of the day we're all humans my dearest Adriana, mere mortals. No matter how much you may think that Abah and Mommy are super-humans for all of the things that we've been able to do for our family and also others, we're at the end of the day just servants to Him, the Almighty.

We certainly do hope that you and The Adik would one day care for us just like how we care for the both of you when you're not feeling well. Abah and Mommy can and will only grow old so hopefully we've brought you up well enough that you would do the same for us too someday.

And don't forget about Abah and Mak too my dearest. They too have embraced both of you into their family as their own. As Abah have mentioned in the previous open letter(s) to you, care for them and keep them in your prayers always.

You've grown a year older and certainly a lot wiser too. You now understand that when the traffic lights are red, we should stop thus rendering Abah's days of beating them over. We're conscious of what we do because you're now entering the stage of learning from those around you.

Abah and Mommy have read enough articles and links that kids your age do not do what parents ask you to do but you do what we do so setting the best example as we can is something that we're striving for. You too should realise by now that The Adik also copies what you do so you should hold your end of the bargain also.

So happy birthday again my dearest Adriana Rahah. We're terribly sorry that we can't celebrate your big day today but we'll make it up to you this coming weekend. Look ahead Adriana, your entire future lies ahead of you. We can show you the door for you to go through but ultimately you would still have to walk through it.

May Allah continue to give you great health and a happy life that is filled with the love and affection that you so deserve.

Warm Regards,

Abah

Finally A Fix For iPhones Stuck On Silent Due To Faulty Vibrate or Volume Button

2014-01-22T11:33:00.001+08:00

If you're like me and have dropped your iPhone a gazillion times, the vibrate/volume button on the side of your iPhone may have gone faulty. Mine had been stuck in silent mode since August of 2013 until today when I finally found a solution for it.

Mind you searching for it is no easy feat. Many will suggest jailbreaking your phone and a number of countless paid apps that claim to solve the issue.

This solution has no cost attached, so if you do the following you'll be just fine.

First, enable Assistive Touch (the virtual home button thingy) by going to Settings > General > Accessibility > Assistive Touch

Once it has been enabled, tap the virtual home button and you'll be presented with 4 options.

Tap on the Device option and you'll see 4 more options.

Just tap on the bell icon and presto you'll be unmute your iPhone to enable sounds on your previously silent iPhone again!

You can also manage your volume button from the other icons. If you're like me and have missed so many calls because you're phone was on vibrate for so long than it would be a relief to have it working again. Just remember though to follow the same steps if you're entering a meeting or going into the cinema to ensure that no one gets irritated and wished you didn't find a solution for your previously permanently silent iPhone ;)

Hopefully like mine, you're iPhone will be silent no more...

Dusty

2013-12-31T21:44:00.001+08:00

Wow, talk about going on a sabbatical. This year has got to be one of the most lean years for posts in this blog of mine. Truthfully, it's been a rather busy year for me thus the lack of updates on this blog...

No, not really. It's not that.

Having 2 toddlers around the house is just one of the many reasons for me going on an extended break. Also the fact that I've been adjusting to a new job and of course a lot of time, effort and money has gone to prepping our very own new home.

Truthfully, I've been staying offline a lot this year. The few updates on are mostly found on Facebook and Twitter. Even on those two platforms, updates are few and far in between. I don't know, maybe the pressure of typing a lot of things on a blog can be such a deterrent.

Or it's maybe because that nobody blogs or read blogs anymore?

That may be true but this blog has never had loads of page views or hundreds of comments in each post. It used to once upon a long time ago but to me it was more of an outlet than anything else. Doesn't mean that all is good thus having nothing to "blog" about?

Not really.

When I look back at 2013, there have been the obvious ups and downs. That's normal, that's why it's called life. It's that time of the year so reminiscing about the year that just flew by is what almost everyone is doing at this precise moment.

2014 will be a challenging year ahead for a lot of people, myself included. Things are going to get a lot more "real" next year. Obviously many have been whining about it long before 2013 had come to an end, again that's expected.

Maybe that's why I find it hard to write in this blog. Most of the time my frustrations are limited to a few sentences or just 140 characters. I'm frustrated at how this nation is being taken to the dogs and I'll be damn if this blog turns into yet another rant space, there's far too many of it already on the web.

Among the many things that I've realised this year is that I can't expect anyone to help me or my family. We're pretty much left to fend for ourselves. I think a lot of people just tend to ignore that fact and believe that it's always someone else's responsibility.

I guess that's why so many people complain and whine incessantly.

Hope isn't a plan and people need to understand that. Hoping that the government will always care for you is nonsense. Live with it. Hoping that suddenly you're going to get a fat increment or a hefty bonus is not planning your finances, it's hoping.

Not having a plan is planning to fail, someone famous said that but I can't remember who.

2014 is upon us and it's not going to get any easier. It's time to step up and be counted. So here's to wishing everyone a happy new year and hoping that whatever life throws at you, you've got a plan in place to face it.

A Better Home

2013-06-17T14:09:00.003+08:00

And so yesterday another father’s day passed and with each passing year, I begin to understand the whole concept of being one. The entire family spent the whole weekend buying stuff for our new home with not much rest in between.

Not a house, a home; there’s a difference.

A house is something that you can get fairly easily. A stroke of a pen on some pieces of paper and you get a house. A home however is an entirely different matter. After the weekend that I had, I now understand the enormity of being the head of a family.

While the Mrs. took the lead when choosing what color or material should the kitchen cabinet and the sofas should be, my mind floats from the price tags to how these material things could and should benefit my family.

You see every son hopes to provide for his family a better one that what his own father did for him. It’s a thought that most men have although they may not admit it out in the open. It’s just that inner goal that we just want the best for our own family, drawing on the experiences and achievements of our own father as a benchmark.

I wondered, quite a lot over the weekend to be honest. I wondered if the kitchen will be the place where as a family we can enjoy our food together, comfortably. I wondered if the oven is placed at the right area of the kitchen, imagining my young children waiting with bated breath for the Raya cookies to be ready.

Will the sofas be comfortable enough for my kids to lie down around me, sharing how their day went or how school was tough for them? Would it be comfortable enough that they would open up to me and share their greatest fears and worries; if the school bully was picking on them or if Allah grants me a son, how the class sweetheart broke his heart?

Will the lawn be big enough for me to sit back in the evenings and see them running around enjoying themselves, working up a sweat and smiling from ear to ear? Will their desks be comfortable enough for them to plough through their homework or their room be roomy enough for them to act out scenes from their favorite cartoon or movie?

Would our room be welcoming enough for the kids to sleep over should the thunderstorms get really bad at night? Will the study be a place where they could safely enter to ask something of me that their Mommy may have not granted knowing that their secrets are safe with me?

I have huge shoes to fill in and to live up to. Arwah Abah was a stern father. You feared the silent treatment more and sometimes wished he would just yell or hit you. As a father he provided for everything we needed and more.

As a senior figure in his working life, he was a consummate professional. He was a great boss and was always respected and admired even years after his retirement had passed. I never had the chance to tap into his experiences for my own working life; he passed away before I started stepping into management.

So for every item that we strike of from the list in our new home, I’ll be wondering if it’s good enough for my family. I was blessed to grow up in a family where as kids, we need not have to worry that much. We weren’t rich, just a normal middle income household but we could focus on our studies and if it permitted, occasionally indulge in our hobbies.

As we continue to piece together our new home, I’m sure I’ll be having even more of these thoughts.

Would I be able to provide the same for my own family?

I guess only time will tell if I will be a successful father but until then, I pray to Allah that He pardon's Abah's sins and ensure a smooth passage for Abah to His heavens...

Al-Fatihah

Yet Again

2013-06-07T15:47:00.002+08:00

Not for the first time, the blog is neglected again. Other than posts that came from other social media sites, not much has been written here. In fact, the last post I wrote required reminding by the Mrs. This blog seems to go through its period of inactivity that it has become something cyclical.

Maybe because like most people, I spend more time on the second screen (mobile) than anything else. And when Blogger hasn't got the proper mobile app for writing and typing on those tiny keyboards is such a hassle, no wonder Baine's World has been neglected so much.

Baine's World is now in its 9th year of existence. I haven't been the most prolific of writers and to date, this would be the 368th post. That roughly translates to about 40 posts a year, about 3 a month. Mind you, that's a flawed assumption as back in the day, the blog used to average almost an update every other day.

I definitely wouldn't want to throw away this blog. What started out as rambling on my part has turned into a journal for me with postings regarding the biggest moments in my life, open letters to my children being one of many.

During the life of this blog, I've changed jobs 3 times. This blog has also noted the death of my mom and dad. This blog has seen me get married and now blessed with 2 wonderful children. The blog has seen me change from a young, impish and at times hasty young man into a more mature (I hope) and tact adult.

We're now well on our way into 2013 and like I have mentioned earlier, the blog is in its 9th year. Most of the people who do blog back in the day have long since left the blogging world. Most now rely on Facebook to document moments in their lives and Twitter to rant.

I doubt many still read blogs so I'm pretty sure no one would probably will ever read this post. Would I care? Not really. But before I wrote this update I glanced through the previous posts on it. It's nice to have something to look back on and contemplate the future.

Till the next post then, whenever that will be.

Kata-Kata Falsampah #9

2013-05-29T12:41:00.001+08:00

Kata-Kata Falsampah #8

2013-05-28T21:24:00.001+08:00

Kata-Kata Falsampah #7

2013-05-27T22:57:00.001+08:00

Yo no hablo español

2013-04-16T08:25:00.003+08:00

Over the weekend Adriana was playing hop-scotch in Kak's backyard in Bukit Jelutong. Instead of counting in Malay or English she went...

Uno...Dos...Tres...Quatro! :P Hahahahahhaha

To quote a famous movie line... "Como dices? Yo no hablo español... un momento! estoy hablando en español! Que diablos! Realmente estoy hablando en español!"

ps: Do you have $3.47? I've left my purse in the Underworld.

Open Letter To The Kid : Three

2013-02-12T14:37:00.001+08:00

Dear Adriana Rahah,

Alhamdulillah you turned three today. Abah would have to thank Mommy for reminding me about writing to you on your birthday.

And how you have grown right before our eyes. From the little girl who announced your arrival 3 years ago you now ride your bicycle, enjoy the pool and the playground.

How you have learned your alphabets and numbers continue to amaze us. The next natural step is to start nudging you towards the great Quran, InsyaAllah.

But rest assured that we will let you grow at your own pace. Yes you may see that some of your peers are already going to "school" but we prefer to let you to live your life.

We want you to express yourself without being constricted in a school. A play school isn't the same as playing at the park. The time will come when you will have to go to school but until then, enjoy yourself Adriana.

Play more because we believe you will learn more. You will learn when you fall down and bruise yourself or when you climb all the way up the stairs and enjoy the view from above. You will learn that when you're happy, it brings a smile to our faces.

Adriana, remember that we love you so much. When The Adik came along we knew that our attention would be stretched. Abah and Mommy apologize if we haven't given you the attention that you still crave. We are doing our best to balance it all, to the best of our abilities.

You see we don't have a maid. Atok and nenek aren't a short drive away to lend a helping hand. Abah and Mommy have to do everything for the family by ourselves. Sometimes things just overwhelm us so we apologize to you, Adriana Rahah.

We aren't so lucky not to worry about picking you up late from work. We aren't so lucky to be able to drop you off at a moment's notice, without worrying about other people's schedule. We don't have the luxury to have the house all tidied up when we get home. Abah and Mommy have to do it all, the cleaning, the washing, the folding and the rest.

What we are lucky is that we have a babysitter that loves you and Adik as if you're both their own children. Ayah and Mak have showered you and Adik with love and care. Abang and Kakak always enjoy the company that you both bring.

Remember them, love them and care for them Adriana. For you owe them as much as Abah and Mommy owe them for taking perfect care of you. Remember them when you grow old and succeed; always have them in your prayers at all times.

Adriana we know that you love Adik but maybe you're still learning to show the love and affection towards her. Sometimes you will be reprimanded but only because you're still learning how to be a big sister. Abah and Mommy know that you will grow up to be a wonderful Kak Long.

So happy birthday my dearest Adriana Rahah. May Allah grant you good health and a life that is filled with joy and happiness.

Warm Regards,

Abah

Kata-Kata Falsampah #6

2013-01-10T21:52:00.001+08:00

Kata-Kata Falsampah #5

2012-12-12T16:53:00.001+08:00

Kata-Kata Falsampah #4

2012-12-05T18:25:00.001+08:00

Kata-Kata Falsampah #3

2012-12-04T22:10:00.001+08:00

Kata-Kata Falsampah #2

2012-12-02T11:52:00.001+08:00

Kata-Kata Falsampah #1

2012-11-29T00:22:00.001+08:00

Money isn't everything but it sure hell can destroy everything

Oh My Manglish #1

2012-11-12T11:56:00.000+08:00

Lain kali kalau tak pandai either go back to school or communicate in your mother tongue sudah....

What the hell does peddle to the mettle even means?!

ps: Is the real life. Is just fantasy?

Hey St. Jude

2012-09-27T17:21:00.001+08:00

My eyes teared up watching this, yes it did.There is definitely something wrong with you if it didn't at least tug at the heart strings.

Ya Allah, aku bersyukur ke atas rahmat-Mu kerana memperlengkapkan sifatku dan kesihatanku dan kedua anak-anakku. Berkatilah hidup kami dan berikanlah pertolongan to those who aren't as lucky as me and my family.

ps: So let it and let it in hey Jude begin. You're waiting for someone to perform with...

News FAIL - Part 4

2012-09-18T14:28:00.000+08:00

So why did you still speak to the media then? Does anonymity means that the company that you're referring isn't affected by the statement?

Either that or is Bloomberg, like most main stream media aren't media agencies but propaganda tools used by the puppet masters....Aha! :P

ps: Dead actors faking lies. Over and over and over again she cries...

Was It True?

2012-09-03T12:26:00.000+08:00

It's certainly been awhile. So much so that when something like this happened, it made you wonder if someone is yanking your leg or pulling a very late April fools joke...

So was it true?

ps: Try to leave a light on when I'm gone. Something to rely on to get home

Lightning Bolt Strikes Twice

2012-08-06T15:08:00.001+08:00

He's definitely on his way to join Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson as legends of athletics in my books.

Sisterhood

2012-07-17T11:44:00.001+08:00

The Kid finally meets The Adik ;)

The Adik

2012-07-16T23:05:00.001+08:00

Introducing The Adik

Four

2012-05-03T20:01:00.001+08:00

4 years ago on this day I married my lovely wife. Alhamdulilliah I'm thankful for having her in my life as my companion and the mother of my children. I pray that we will all stick together as a family through thick and thin.

Wahai Tuhan kami, berilah kami beroleh dari isteri-isteri dan zuriat keturunan kami: perkara-perkara yang menyukakan hati melihatnya, dan jadikanlah kami imam ikutan bagi orang-orang yang (mahu) bertaqwa. (Al-Furqan 74)

Baine's World

*Open Letter To The Kid : Five*

*Open Letter To The Kid : Four*

*Finally A Fix For iPhones Stuck On Silent Due To Faulty Vibrate or Volume Button*

*Dusty*

*A Better Home*

*Yet Again*

*Kata-Kata Falsampah #9*

*Kata-Kata Falsampah #8*

*Kata-Kata Falsampah #7*

*Yo no hablo español*

*Open Letter To The Kid : Three*

*Kata-Kata Falsampah #6*

*Kata-Kata Falsampah #5*

*Kata-Kata Falsampah #4*

*Kata-Kata Falsampah #3*

*Kata-Kata Falsampah #2*

*Kata-Kata Falsampah #1*

*Oh My Manglish #1*

*Hey St. Jude*

*News FAIL - Part 4*

*Was It True?*

*Lightning Bolt Strikes Twice*

*Sisterhood*

*The Adik*

*Four*